Dry-pipe valve.



E. E. CLARK. I

DRY PIPE VALVE.

APPLICATLQN FILED DEC-3|. 19w.

Patented Apr. 15,1919.

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EZRA E. CLARK, OF NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRY-PIPE VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed December 31, 1917. Serial 110.209,?65.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EZRA E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newtonville, county of Middlesex, State of Mas sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Dry-Pipe Valves, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to novel improvements in dry pipe valves.

Valves of this general type are employed in automatic sprinkler systems and include a water valve and an air valve and are so constructed that the pressure of the air confined in the sprinkler system will hold closed the water valve against the pressure. of the water in the supply pipe. These dry pipe valves are, further, so constructed that a lesser air pressure will hold the water valve closed against the greater water pressure. This is usually accomplished by a system of levers or by the use oi differential valves or by a combination of both. This invention is of the same general type as set forth in my prior application, Serial No. 188,284, filed August 27, 1917, and is of the differential type in which the air valve is of greater area than theopposed water valve.

The object of this invention is to provide a dry pipe valve which will be compact, efficient, inexpensive and durable.

A more specific object is to provide a differential dry pipe valve in which the water valve and air valve are relatively oblique and are connected to form a single structure which is provided with a parallel link motion to guide the structure from normal seated to its unseated position.

Another object is to provide such a differential valve structure in which the usual diflierentia'l between the areas of the two valves may be reduced.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been illustrated a selected embodiment of this invention but it is to be understood that it is illustrative but not restrictive and that various changes may be made within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In this selected embodiment of the invention, the casing 1 substantially incloses the whole dry pipe valve and is provided at its upper end with an outlet opening 2 which is adapted to be connected to the automatic sprinkler system normally containing air under pressure. The lower end of the casing is provided with an opening 3 to be connect ed with the usual riser or pipe of the water supply always under pressure. The open-: ings 2 and 3 are preferably in alinement so that a substantially straight waterway is provided through the casing for the water forced therethrough upon the unseating of the air valve and water valve by the release of a sprinkler head and consequent'redue tion of air pressure in the sprinkler system. A covered hand-hole 4 is also provided in the casing through which the valve structure may be inserted or removed from the casing, while the smaller plugged opening or hand-hole 5 is made to permit of machining the seat of the air valve in a machine-shop boring mill. The seat of the water valve may be machined through the opening 2 of the water way. 7

In this preferred construction, the inlet 6 is substantially cylindrical and extends well within the casing in alinement with the outlet opening 2. The upper end of the inlet 6 is provided with a valve seat 7 upon which is seated an annular portion of the water valve 8 which normally closes the water inlet 6. The inlet is so formed that the valve 8 occupies a position inclined to the vertical and a circular valve seat is provided thereon to accommodate the valve 8.

Hereto'lfore, dry pipe valves in their run seating movements have commonly been mounted to swing about some center to a position permitting the free flow of water. In

the above-mentioned application, there is disclosed a form of dry pipe valve wherein the valve structure is mounted by a link system comprisin links of unequal length. These unequal links are SO arranged that the valve structure must move in a short, curved, restricted path to an open position at one side of the waterway. The valves in that structure are in the same parallel plane or substantially so.

In this novel structure, the planes of the air and water valves are oblique to each other and in that manner aid in securing the advantage of the use of gravity to aid the opened structure in its movement to unseated position at one side of the waterway. Further, the links carrying the valve structure are of equal length and afford a parallel link motion. These parallel links are so pivotally secured to the valve structure and to the main casting that, when the valve structure is in normal seated position, the longitudinal median lines of the links are at an acute angle to the line of force of the water pressure exerted on the underside of the water valve. WVhile advantages accrue from the oblique relation of the valves, the most advantageous results are attained through the combination of the oblique valves mounted on links which are, as stated, at acute angles to the line of force of the water pressure. The angular position of the two 7 pairs of links is so chosen that a large portion of the thrust of the water pressure (about one-half as shown in the drawings) is resolved along the lines of the links and taken up by them directly, leaving only the remainder to be balanced by the air pressure on the upper side of the air valve member of the valve structure. Secondly, the oblique relation of the valves is so made and the angularity of the links is so chosen that the amount and direction of the resolved forces of the water pressure and air. pressure opposedly acting upon their respective valves is such that a much smaller air valve may be used to afford the requisite effective force to maintain a water valve of the usual size on its seat.

The air valve 9 is inclined at a greater degree to the horizontal than is the water valve. And, in. this novel construction, the angular relation of the water valve to the air valve is such that the planes circum-- scribed by the perimeters of the valves are intersecting; such disposition of the air valve reduces the amount of space occupied by the valve structure. The air valve is provided with'a similarly inclined valve seat 10. This valve seat is formed on an annular shoulder 11 partly on the inlet casting 6 and partly on the main casting 1. The planes of the airand water valve seats are similarly intersected. The differential function of the two valves is attained, as is usual, by making the air valve of greater area, as shown, than the water valve. This inclination of the seated valve structure not only causes the natural force of gravity to' aid in and accele'rate the latter portion of the movement of the valve structure to unseated position but the direction of inclination reduces the space occupied by the valve structure in unseated position.

This air valve 9 substantially separates the casing interior into upper and lower chambers. The upper chamber, comprising all that above the air valve, is subjected normally to the air pressure in the sprinkler system through the outlet opening 2, and therefore the whole upper surfaceof the air valve is subjected to this air pressure. The lower chamber comprises all that between the valves and is. normally open to the atmosphere.

The air valve and the water valve are preferably joined together 'in one valve.

structure and function substantially as a unit in their operative movements. As here shown the water valve 8 is secured to and carried by the larger air valve 9. A threaded stud bolt 13 secures the water valve to the air valve, in sufiiciently loose adjustment to permit the water valve easily to seat itself. This stud bolt 13 is carried by a plate 14 and is received in threaded engagement with the water valve 8. The plate l t is preferably formed as an integral part of the casting of the air valve 9. The air valve 9 under pressure of the air in the system therefore retains the water valve seated against the pressure of the water in the inlet 6 and, upon reduction of the air pressure in the system, the unbalanced force of the watercauses the water valve to be raised and to carry with it, to one side of the easing, the air valve 9.

The perimeter of the air valve 9-is provided with a circumferentially projecting flap or ring washer 15 of a suitably flexible material such as rubber. This washer is held to the air valve by means of the clamping ring 16 which is made of a shape adaptable to be secured to the underside of the air valve and. to be held in place by means of the screws 17. This washer 15 is therefore yieldingly held against the valve seat 10 and thus assures anair tight juncture when the air valve is in normal seated position. i

In order to secure compactness and efficiency of this dry pipe valve construction, the valve structure is provided with a link motion to guide the valve structure in its movement from seated to an unseated position where it may remain at one side of the waterway. The novel link motion provided by this invention for the valve structure is a parallel link motion which comprises two systems of link members pivotally mounting the differential valve structure in the casing. All the link members are of equal length and the two opposed links which are attached to the upper side of the air valve will be referred to, for convenience of description merely, as the upper links, while the other opposed pair of links will be referred to as the lower links. These links, as noted, are disposed inopposed pairs and the upper links 18 are shown as having their upper ends pivotally secured to the frame 19. This frame may be cast integrally with the air valve but for convenience is cast separately and secured to the air valve by means of the bolts 20 received in bosses 21. This frame 19 is also provided with a Web 22. This Webb 22 bears the bosses 23 which form journals for the pintle rod 24. The bosses 25 on the upper ends of the upper links 18 are mounted on the rod 24. Similar bosses 26 are formed on the opposite ends of the upper links 18 and are pivotally mounted by means of the pintles 28. The inner ends of each of the pintles 28 of these links are preferably supported by the inlet casing while the outer end portions are carried in the box 27. Each pintle carries sleeves 29 which have spacing flanges 3O properly to position and guide the pivotal bosses 26 of the links. The box 27, shown on the left in Fig. 2 as formed in the main casting 1, has its outer end closed by means of a threaded plug 32 while the opposed box 27 which is built up from the edge of the hand-hole opening is closed by the hand-hole cover 4 recessed at this point to accommodate this structure. These upper links 18 are thus pivotally mounted to straddle the cylindricalinlet 6.

The lower links 33 of the valve structure are of an effective length equal to the effective length of the upper links 18 and provide the parallel link motion for the valve structure. The upper ends of these similar links 33 terminate in bosses 34 which carry flanged sleeves 35 to receive the pintle rod 36. This rod is journaled in flanged sleeves 37 carried in bosses 38 formed on the web 22 of the frame 19. The upper ends of these lower parallel link members are thus pivotally secured to the valve structure by means of the air valve frame. These linksdownwardly extend and are borne at their lower ends by means of terminal bosses 39 carrying flanged sleeves 40 receiving the rodv 41 journaled in flanged sleeves 42 received in cored-out portions of the main casting which form boxes 43. An air-tight closure of the box 43 shown on the left in Fig. 2 is effected by the plug 44 received in threaded engagement in the outerend of the box. The two links 33 are preferably joined by a web 45 which assures structural rigidity and accuraey of alinement. a r

Thetopen unseated positionof the valve structureis shown in dotted lines in Fig. .1. This unseating is effected by the water pressure when the normal air pressure is reduced by escape through an opened sprinkler head. The valve structure is guided by its parallel link motion to its unseated position in the casing to one side of the water inlet. An unimpeded waterway straight through the dry pipe valve is thus afforded. A rest against which the unseated structure may remain is provided ,by the shoulder 46 preferably in tegrally formed on the inner face of the main casting 1. The valve structure is thereby prevented from finding support by contact of the yieldable flap or washer 15 on the side of the casing. This washer 15, when the valve structure is in openor un eated position, does not touch the casing.

As above pointed out, the air valve 9 separates the easing into the upper or air pressure chamber and the lower or atmospheric pressure chamber. The lower chamber is provided with a means for normally affording direct communication with the casing exterior, which means is closed coincidently to the opening of the water valve. To provide a housing for this mechanism, the main casing is provided with a drip valve chamber 47. An outlet to the atmosphere is provided in this chamber by means of the outlet 48 in which is received in threaded engagement a sleeve 49 bearing a valve seat 50 to receive a valve 51 carried by a stem 52 slidingly guided by an apertured web 53 provided in the sleeve 49. This stem 52 at its upper end is provided with a pin and slot connection 54 with one member 55 of a toggle joint pivotally mounted in the wall of the chamber 47. The member 55 is pivotally mounted as at 56 in the wall of the chamber 47. The other member of the toggle joint comprises a link 57 having its ends terminating in cylindrical bosses 58, one of which is received within a recess in the toggle member 55 while the other boss 58 is guided between ways 59' formed on the main casing and contacts with a projection 60 on the plate 14 of the valve structure. The engagement of the plate end with the guided boss 58, as shown in Fig. 1, assures the maintenance of the drip valve in open position, raised from its seat 50 and thereby permits the escape of .eitherair or water which may leak past their respective valves. Upon unseating of the valve structure, the projec tion 60 moves away from the pivotal point 56 of the toggle member and allows the toggle joint to straighten and permits the valve 51 to drop by gravity to its seat 50 thereby to close the chamber 47. Partial opening movement of the plate '14, permits the toggle joint to move toward straight position so that the valve structureis prevented from accidental re-seating by contact of the end projection 60 with the guided cylindrical boss 58. r The prevention of the reseating of the valve structure, after the Water valve has once slightly left its seat, is advantageous in that it makes more positive the entire opening and functioning of the valve structure. r V

As a matter of practical construction and operation, a small amount of relative play between the air valve and the water valve is desirable to compensate for inaccuracies and inequalities in the valves and their respective seatings. Therefore, the underside of the plate 14' is provided with an annular concaved surface to engage an annular convex surface upwardly presented by the water valve 8. This construction functions in the nature of a ball oint and automatically permitsadjustment of the relative positions of the valves in a plurality of directions. Theremainder of the surface of each valve is out of contact with the other and the space therebetween is maintained at atmospheric pressure due to its communication with the drip valve chamber 47.

There is thus provided a dry pipe valve having its air and water valves united in a single compact valve structure in which the air valve is relatively smaller than is usual and in which the two valves are so arranged as to require a modicum of space both in seated and unseated positions. And, similarly, in moving from one to the other, the necessity for the large amount of space required by valves mounted on an arm or arms swinging about a common center is overcome by means of the parallel link motion.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p

1. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, the planes of the differential valves being oblique to each other, seats for said valves, and link members of equal length pivoted to provide a parallel link motion to carry the differential valve structure and to guide the valve structure from seated to unseated position. 1

2. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a singlevalve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, the planes of the differential valves being oblique to each other, seats for said valves, and pairs of parallel link members of equal length pivotally mounting the differential valve struc ture and acting upon unseating of the valves to guide the valve structure to unseated position, the pairs of link members extending when the valve structure is seated ina direction'whereby the force exerted on the underoblique to each other, seats for said valves,

pairs of link members of equal length pivoted to provide a parallel link motion for the differential valve structure to guide the valve structure from seated to iniseated position, the longitudinal median lines of the links forming an acute angle with the line of force exerted on the underside of the water valve when the structure is in seated position whereby the differential between said valves may be reduced.

4:. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, th planes circumscribed by the perimeters of the valves intersecting, seats for said valves, and link members of equal length pivoted to provide a parallel link motion for the differential valve structure to guide the structure from seated to unseated position.

5. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, seats for said valves, the casing having a chamber separated by the air valve fromthe remainder of the casing, said chamber having an outlet to the casing exterior, valve means operable to close said outlet and toggle means operable to maintain the outlet open when said valve structure is seated and to permit the outlet to be closed upon movement of the seated valve structure.

6. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being of less area than the air valve, seats for said valves, the casing having a chamber separated by the air valve from the remainder of the casing, said chamber having' an outlet to the casing exterior, valve means operable to close said outlet and pivotally mounted toggle means automatically operable to prevent reseating of the valve structure when the latter becomes unseated and to permit the outlet to be closed upon unseating of the valve structure.

7. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, a water valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, the water valve being the planes of the differential valves being oblique to each other, seats for said valves,

of less area than the air valve,

a Water inlet extending Within the casing, the air valve seat being formed partly on said inlet and on said casing, and link members of equal length pivoted to provide a parallel link motion for the differential valve structure to guide the valve structure from seated to unseated position.

8. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing providing a Waterway therethrough, a Water 10 valve and an air valve connected to form a single valve structure, valve seats therefor, links of equal length pivotally mounted on either side of the Waterway, and a frame connected to the valve structure to carry the same the links bein pivotally connected to said frame and stra dling the Waterway.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EZRA E. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

